Beer and Chicken. Beer Chicken?

I like to do manly things just as much as the next guy, and since I can't call the sun up every morning and then wrestle a grizzly bear to the forest floor, I'll do the next best thing: make beer can chicken. What's beer can chicken you might ask? It's where you cook a bird atop a can of your favorite beer. The beer adds a bit of flavor and a lot of moisture throughout the cooking process so that your chicken comes out nice and tender. No my friends, it doesn't get much manlier than this.

I got the idea and recipe from a great blog that I follow, The Art of Manliness. If you don't already follow this blog, follow it. Do it now. This recipe should require about an hour and fifteen minutes total, so let's get started.

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• 1 4-5 lb. young chicken, washed and rinsed clean
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. Creole seasoning
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 lemon
• 1 can beer, open can, take a few swigs
• Beer can chicken stainless stand
• Butcher's twine

1. Since we're presumably out in the woods, you'll have to make a certain type of fire for this to work. In my last post, we talked about making a teepee fire. This won't work. You'll still need the circle of rocks, but you'll want charcoal to cook this sucker. 
2. Coat that bird in olive oil and rub the Creole seasoning into the chick, including the cavity. Stuff the cavity with garlic and lemon, and place the chicken on top of the beer on the stand. Tie the legs of the chicken together with the butcher's twine.
3. Now it's time to smoke the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees F. You're almost done now. 
4. Cover the bird with foil and let the things sit for about 20 minutes before serving. 

How to Make a Campfire...the Manly Way

We all love fires, right? Like, fires are awesome. I like campfires though. Not the biggest fan of forest fires or house fires. Also if you are reading this right now and know that you don't like campfires just go away. I mean seriously.

So how does one make said amazing campfire? Now there are many ways to go about starting a fire. Actually no, there are really only two ways to make a campfire. There's the right way and there's the wrong way. The first (wrong) way requires lots of lighter fluid/gasoline (sorry dad, you've been doing it wrong). The second (right) way requires good wood placement/structure, some kind of fire starter (flint/matches/lighter) and patience. The teepee fire is the best way to build a fire.

1. Be safe. Make sure to enclose your fire with a circle of big rocks so that the fire cannot spread.
2. Find wood, and set it up like a teepee. 
3. Find small scrap wood and place it in the teepee. You'll get the fire going easier if you start by lighting the scrap - it will spread to the larger pieces quickly.
4. Put a couple of matches or a lighter to the kindling. This will be frustrating at first. It's hard to get a good fire going, but a fire built without lighter fluid will last much longer. Once you think you've got some kindling aflame, try blowing gently on the hottest part of the small fire. Don't blow too hard or the fire will go out. 
5. Keep feeding the fire scrap wood until the teepee catches. 

There you have it! Very straight forward. Good luck and don't die. 

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The Outcast Life

Does going on a solo camping expedition sound appealing? No? Well it rarely it does. Maybe after a break up or if you just hate people in general it might sound more appealing. Just kidding (kind of), the solo camping trip can be very beneficial. If you're looking into camping by youself, you will need a one man tent. The Eureka Solitaire 1 is a fantastic one man, bivy tent. It's light (I like light, especially since I'm pretty lazy) and durable.

Pros

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The tent itself is lightweight, not too big, and only $74.99 on Amazon (see link above). While I wouldn't recommend this rent for the multiday backpacking trip or winter camping expedition, it would be perfect for the weekend getaway to the mountains. Setup will take you less than 5 minutes because it is extremely easy to assemble. There is also a small space underneath the full fly outside of the tent to store your gear and keep it safe from the elements.

Cons

The only con is that the tent poles that it comes with are terrible. They are made of plastic. I would advise you to purchase aluminum tent poles to go with this tent. The good news is that it only has two poles, so the extra poles that you might consider purchasing won't be too costly.

Overall, I would give this tent a 4 out of 5 starts.

A Primer on Winter Camping: Part 3 - Gear

Gear and Accessories

If you've been following my series on winter camping, we have covered the essentials: the sleeping bag, the tent, and the clothes you will need to keep warm. What about the rest of the camping doodiddys you have collected over the many years and want to bring along? This third and final post in my series on winter camping will give you a checklist that you should consider before you embark on your winter expedition. Here are the essential items that you must have when you go on your winter camping trip:


(Photo: via) 65-Liter

• Flashlights/headlamps/batteries (Be sure to store you batteries in a warm place, they will last longer than if they are in the cold).
• First-aid kit
• Kitchenware: eating utensils, pots, pans, plates/bowls, stove/fuel (be sure to bring liquid gas such as white gas, it is recommended for cold temperatures)
• Ice axe, snow saw, crampons, snow shovel, snow shoes, poles
• Probe and GPS
• Cellphones/Radios (Again, store in warmer areas for longer lasting batteries)
• Sleeping pads/sleeping bag liners
• Food/Cleaning kit (bio-degradable soap/brush)
• Backpack (As mentioned in a previous post, I would recommend investing in either a lightweight 65-Liter pack with lash points to strap down your bulkier items with or a deluxe 80-liter pack, also with lash points).
• Repair kit/Tools
• Fire starting equipment (matches/candle/fire starter/lighter)
• Gloves and mittens/hats
• Boots/Gaiters (Be sure to this gear is waterproof and breathable)
• Goggles/sunglasses/sun protection
• Sanitation (Toilet paper/baby wipes)
• Books/maps/compasses/journal/camera